"Kevin! Kevin!... Wake up!! Kevin!!"
Kevin slowly opened his eyes...
"Emily?.."
"Thank god! You can hear me!.."
Everything was blurry... but gradually came into focus...
A hospital. Emily is sitting beside his bed.
"You're okay, right? Why didn't you tell me?"
"Tell you what?"
"How deep your wounds were. Look what they did to you!"
"I'm fine..."
"You got worse during dinner... then collapsed..."
"..."
At that moment, Bıfrat entered.
"Ah! Kid... I came as soon as I heard..."
"Don't worry... how long was I out?"
"Miss... it's getting late, you should go home... your family will worry," Bıfrat said.
"...Actually... Okay... Kevin, I'll come see you tomorrow... without fail... Goodnight."
Emily left the room.
"Are you stupid? Where did you go in this condition?"
"I promised."
"And if something had happened to you?"
"Eh.... Help me. Let's go home."
"Why?"
"For Training."
"You think you can fight tomorrow in this state?"
"You know I have to. Don't drag this out, Bıfrat..."
"KEVI—"
"I said, let's not drag this out... Bıfrat... Help me... Please..."
——————————————————————
"Welcome to Group A's final match, esteemed spectators! The battle begins!"
Kevin entered the arena.
*"What could it be? I'll finish this quick..."*
"Kevin is an exceptionally determined fighter!! But he seems to have been severely injured last time!! His opponent is... Virexis!!!"
"Virexis... huh?" he thought.
When Virexis stepped into the arena, everyone froze... Pale, vampiric skin, tattered wings, claws protruding from his hands... horns and razor-sharp fangs...
*"Macu energy is really spiraling out of control..."* crossed his mind.
Virexis suddenly attacked Kevin.
"They told me you were strong... Show me your power!!"
With a flurry of slashes, his claws wounded Kevin.
Kevin tried to counter with a spinning kick, but
Virexis slammed him to the ground effortlessly...
Pinning him down, Virexis tried to tear out his throat with his fangs, but Kevin punched him away.
Seizing the chance, Kevin stood—but couldn't keep his balance. In that instant, Virexis drove his claw into Kevin's back.
"Hahahaha... So this is all you are?? Pathetic..."
He tried to wrench his claw upward.
Kevin immediately reached back, attempting to lock Virexis' arm.
With his other hand, he threw a weak punch at his face.
Virexis began to rise with his wings.
Kevin tried to jump after him—but couldn't. His wounds were too severe... If Virexis decided to stall for time... it would be his end...
Kevin couldn't hold on and collapsed...
Seeing this, Virexis swooped down toward him.
"This ends here!!"
"Yeah... I agree..."
Kevin mustered his last strength and rolled aside. Virexis tried to recover mid-air but was too close to the ground...
Kevin grabbed his horn... and yanked him down.
In one motion, he pinned Virexis' neck and—*snap*.
He stood one last time... swaying. So much so that he couldn't even hear the crowd's frenzy, the announcer declaring him a finalist of The Big Final... He'd won by sheer luck...
His eyes closed... He collapsed in a pool of blood...
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File #006
Macu Archives
There's an urban legend that Macu energy now exists in everyday objects people use. These objects emit a toxic gas. One day, the government will use it... and everyone will become slaves.
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